The emerging IP(internet protocol) based surveillance technology shows the tendency for the future video surveillance. The reasons are many.                    

The video surveillance system evolves from the very early CCTV system, to the mainstream DVR system in today and IP video surveillance in the future.

The key factor in digital video surveillance is the massive manufacture and adoption of DVR – Digital Video Recorder, which is prevailing in modern surveillance system.

However, digital video surveillance won’t stop in DVR, it will still evolve to IP video surveillance in the following 4 aspects:

1. Digital and more digital.  The digital in video surveillance industry refers the 3 important factors,:

·        Process to convert analog audio and video signal to digital signal

·        Process to compress converted digital signal of audio or video. There are many algorithms introduced balance the goal of high compression rate, fast process and low loss rate of original media.

·        Storage of digital media

DVR is already a digital system in storage of picture or video, but the quality of media is pretty low compared to family entertainment system, which is improving standard by standard from VHS-DVD-Blue Ray. It is a great challenge for digital surveillance to improve quality of video and unify media format down the road.

The recent indication of HD (High Definition) computing is the standardization of H.264 and the release of chipset implementing of H.264  algorithm.

1. Network. Network is another key factor for video surveillance system to accomplish remote control and centralized management. Compare the high cost and inflexibility of traditional surveillance with specialized transfer channel, the internet has obvious advantage on it.
2. Integration. In order to make the video surveillance system running in open network, the interface between software, products has to be put together by system integrators according to end user’s requirement and environment.
3. Intelligence. Facing the gig-bytes or even terra-bytes digital media, how to find the useful information is big problem. Intelligence comes here as a irreplaceable advantage for digital surveillance on traditional CCTV system. The Business Intelligence for digital video surveillance including the following 3 technologies:

·        Image recognition. The most prevailing application is human face recognition.

·        Video search. Digital media usually is saved in raids of hard drive and is very hard to find. Intelligent video search technology is vital.

·        Intelligent alarm.  Intelligent alarming technology can determine whether there is motion or dangerous goods  based on special algorithm and send out alerts.

The above factors will affect the development and tendency of  digital surveillance and IP surveillance will draw more attention and adoption thus bring us more reliable, affordable products and service.

Digital Surveillance is the next big wave in video surveillance industry, and will bring the fundamental changes in home monitoring, business surveillance and safety.

The following chart compared 3 main types of digital surveillance system to aid make decision when purchasing  digital surveillance system.

IP camera, sometimes called network Camera, is a type of standalone unit serving as surveillance device which can be controlled and monitored through standard protocol,such as HTTP, FTP and SMTP without computers involved.

There is usually an embedded web server running inside the camera to hanlde http request from open internet so that uses can access the camera through a web browser to monitor and control the camera.

Dividedly by how the camera lens and image processing unit constructed, IP Camera can be classified into 2 types: 

1. Integrated IP Camera, in which the image capture unit, like camera lens, is integrated with image processing unit. Those type ofcamera has only one lens, thus support only one channel.
2. Video server, which only has image processing unit and other units such as image transfer, networking module. There is no video capture unit inside it. Video server usually supports multi video input channels, 2 ,4 and up to 32 channels. The lower end video server support 2 or 4 input channels, however, only one channel can be set to active, thus only this channel can be monitored and responses to motion detection.

Dividedly by how video capture unit connected to video server, the video server can be classidied into 2 categories:

1. Corded camera, in which the camera is connected by cord. Corded camera provides good quality of video or image
2. Cordless camera, in which the camera is connected by radio signal or X10 adaptors.  Cordless is easy to deploy but with low quality of video
   

Dividedly by how IP Camera connected to internet, the IP Camera can be classified into 2 types:

1. Wired Camera, which is connected with a CAT 5 standard network cable through a RJ 45 jacket of ethernet . This type of camera provides most reliable connection and best bandwidth
2. Wireless Camera, which is connected to internet through WiFi, bluetooth or other connecting methods.
   

It is almost 13 years now since the first release of IP Camera in 1995. However, this kind device does not obtain family user's attention even there are so much improvement such as

• End users are getting more computer knowledge related  training
• Support is eay to obtain from internet community
  
• Broadband internet connections are preveiling
• WiFi and AP are matue

As a great potential product, however, IP Camera does not draw enough attention from family users. The reasons are many, but the following 2 are dominating:

1. Dynamic IP. Most family users connect to internet with a dynamic IP address. When the IP changes, the camera become accessible. The  working around is to use thrid part service, such as, DDNS. The DDNS clients in desktop are pretty reliable, but the counterpart in embedded system are very loose.
   
2. Portfarding. A big challenge for regular user to configurate IP Camera with port forwarding function is almost un-overcomable. The UPNP functions are doable way to go, but the implementation is so loosely that there is no tool can handle all routers. Even an experienced user probably finds it not so strightforward for some routers.
3. Router configuration. Except for portforwarding, there are some other issue making IP Camera difficultly accessible from outside, for example, some router block all http request from outside by default.